Elastomeric Coating Composition

ABSTRACT

An elastomeric coating composition to enhance or alter the aesthetic appearance of an automobile. The coating composition can be applied by spraying onto either a vehicle paint job or clear coat and is semi-permanent upon drying. The coating composition can be manually removed from the vehicle by peeling without damaging the underlying paint job or clear coat on the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application No. 15/056,052 filedon Feb. 29, 2016 entitled “Elastomeric Coating Composition and Method ofApplying Same” which claims priority to Provisional Application No.62/126,587 filed on Feb. 28, 2015 and entitled “Elastomeric CoatingComposition and Method of Applying Same.” The content of theseapplications are fully incorporated herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an elastomeric coating specifically engineeredto enhance or alter the aesthetic appearance of an automobile. Intraditional settings, automobile paint shops change the color and finishof trucks, cars, and other vehicles by applying permanent paint to theexterior of the vehicle. This process is extremely time consuming,expensive, and irreversible unless the owner starts over and re-paintsthe vehicle again.

Other aesthetic enhancements to vehicles include pin stripe appliques orthe like. These kinds of embellishments are often glued to the surf aceof the vehicle to provide a unique look to the exterior finish and areintended to be permanent.

The main kinds of temporary exterior enhancements to a vehicle finishare often magnetized or attached with a removable glue, neither of whichis durable.

A need exists in the art of automobile finishing for a solution to theproblem that individuals and businesses prefer to decorate theirvehicles with finishes that are changeable without having to re-paint orre-apply a permanent finish again and again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A coating composition for vehicles, comprises a polymer, a tackifier, ahydrocarbon resin; and a solvent.

In another embodiment, the coating composition includes astyrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene liner triblock copolymer in an amountby weight of 6.51 percent; a hydrocarbon resin in an amount by weight of5.70 percent; a tackifier in an amount by weight of 1.14 percent;silicon dioxide thixotrope in an amount by weight of 0.57 percent; ahindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) in an amount by weight of 0.20percent; a UV stabilizer in an amount by weight of 0.20 percent; anantioxidant in an amount by weight of 0.20 percent; a solvent blendincluding a mixture of 22/11/9 of Xylene, Toluene, and VM&P Naphtha inan amount by weight of 85.47 percent.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood sothat the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated.Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter whichform the subject of the claims of the invention. It should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and thespecific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methodsdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In one embodiment, the coating of this disclosure is an elastomericcoating composition that is useful in part to cover the exterior finishof a vehicle in a semi-permanent manner. As used herein, the term“vehicle” encompasses all of the usual embodiments of a device used fortravel, including but not limited to, automobiles and trucks. Otherkinds of vehicles may also fall within the scope of this invention, suchas more specialized uses like race cars, motorcycles, golf carts, oreven boats. None of these examples limits the kinds of “vehicles” forwhich the coating described herein may be used.

The coating described in this disclosure is considered semi-permanent inthat the coating, applied properly, does not wash off or fall off thevehicle after application, but stays in place on the vehicle until theuser chooses to remove it. When the user or owner of a vehicle decidesto remove the coating, the coating is amenable to being peeled offwithout harming the underlying original finish of the vehicle. Thecoating, however, does not detach from the original finish of thevehicle unless and until the user makes a concerted effort to peel thecoating off of the vehicle.

When the coating is removed, the coating does not damage the underlyingfinish to which it has been applied. In one embodiment, the coating isan adherent film, configured for spraying onto a vehicle and having aformulation including, at least in part:

-   -   1) Thermoplastic rubber    -   2) Hydrocarbon resin    -   3) Tackifier    -   4) Solvent system using Varnish Makers & Painters (VM&P)        Naphtha, Xylene, and Toluene    -   5) Thixotropic Silica    -   6) Anti-oxidant/UV stabilizers. In one embodiment, the        anti-oxidants and UV stabilizers are applied as a solution to        the coating and allowed to air dry thereon.        Subsequent layers provide for full coverage, where desired        results can be achieved.

The coating described herein, therefore, relates to an improvedelastomeric coating composition used to alter the original appearance ofa vehicle and a number of its exterior components, including but notlimited to painted or clear coat surfaces, trim, wheels, rims, andbadges, whereby future removal is allowed, returning the vehicle back toits originally equipped and manufactured state.

One method of the present invention includes the utilization of thecoating solution to coat the vehicle in stages, where the initial coatand each subsequent layer is allow to air dry thereby providing for adesired change or changes in appearance. The film is both adherent andof uniform composition, and forms a rugged composite shell which retainsits elastomeric properties under prolonged UV exposure and othernaturally occurring environmental elements. The composite film wasengineered with an application-specific bond strength to achieve bothadequate adhesion balanced with good removability characteristics, aswell as superior tensile and peel strength properties. The quantity oftackifier used in the formulation is within a range and concentration sothat the film is stable upon vehicle application and will stay on theouter surface of the vehicle so long as the owner desires, but with thetackifier used in proper quantities, the film peels off the surface ofthe vehicle without damaging the underlying original paint job or clearcoat. In this way, the tackifier is used in the appropriate quantity andthe film solution has a tackifier therein in a range of composition orconcentration to ensure that the film is peel-able upon drying. Thepeeling force needed to remove the film after drying is within a rangeallowing for peeling by hand without damaging the original paint job andclear coat on the vehicle.

Generally, the present invention is an adherent-coherent coating systemwhere a base or primer coat is not required. The coating is sprayeddirectly onto an original equipment manufacturer vehicle finish. Thecoating described herein has made significant contributions to thedevelopment of a pigment carrier system and loading concentrations ofthe same in order to achieve the desired appearance after a specifiednumber of coats. The application technique for the coating is bypressurized spraying via HVLP (high volume low pressure) sprayingequipment.

The pigment carrier system used with the film described herein isimportant, as the color of the film can be very important for marketingand commercial applications. The pigments used to color the film may beproprietary to the owner of the technology disclosed herein, such thatpigments that are wetted into solution yield vibrant, deeper, orgenerally more aesthetically pleasing colors. The carriers used for thepigments may be based in polyol compounds or mineral oil mixtures.

Typically composite coatings are measured by a number of desirablephysical and chemical properties such as durability, adhesion, cohesion,and bond and peel strengths. As a rule, the inventor maximized each ofthese properties whenever possible; however, as often was the case atradeoff occurred, where the increase of one component led to an adversereaction in the overall composite system; therefore, the inventoremployed a measured compromise approach with respect to the conflictingproperties in order to achieve a collection of desired usecharacteristics.

Research and trials of at least 100 attempts were employed using varioustypes and ratios of styrene/ethylene/butylene elastomers, hydrocarbonresins, thixotropic silicas and solvents and respective ratios that bestprovided for adequate spray and finishing characteristics, strength anddurability properties, coupled with desired bond and peel behaviors.

A number of various hydrocarbon resins were incorporated to help enhancethe overall durability and scratch resistance not yet achieved byearlier formulations. After rigorous research and development, certainhydrocarbon resins, for example but not limited to Eastman's Plastolyn™290, have been identified as being one useful ingredient to aid theenhancement of the coatings overall look, feel, finish texture andenhanced mar resistance, again not seen by earlier formulations. Otherpurified aromatic monomers having similarly high softening points arealso options for this line of coatings. In one embodiment, otheraromatic hydrocarbon resins having a softening point of at least 140degrees Celsius (according to ASTM D6493-11(2015), Standard Test Methodsfor Softening Point of Hydrocarbon Resins and Rosin Based Resins) and amelt viscosity of about 1000 poise at 165 degrees Celsius could providesimilar results. In another embodiment, the hydrocarbon resin exhibits amelt viscosity of 1,100 mPa·s (200° C.).

The same is true with the solvent ratios. Each solvent tested hadspecific properties that among other reactions, i.e. chemical-solubilityparameters, Kb values, and polar and/or non-polar reactions, must beincorporated into the composite system in specific orders and quantitiesto aid in the proper homogeneous solution and subsequent end use via thehigh volume low pressure spraying equipment. More rigorous testingidentified both the candidates and ratios thereof for use in the endcomposite solution.

As with all elastomeric films built to an adequate thickness, thesubject coating shares similar properties in its imperviousness toacids, alkalis, salts, moisture, and capability of withstandingprolonged UV exposure while remaining flexible over a wide range oftemperatures.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to providean improved coating used in aid of altering or enhancing the appearanceof the exterior of automobiles and method of doing the same. The driedcomposite film possesses superior texture such that a satin or vinyllook is achieved and bond, peel and tensile strength characteristics areoptimized for end user ease of use.

Furthermore, the subject invention is to provide an improved techniquefor coating the exterior of automobiles such that a smooth vinyl and/orsatin like appearance can be achieved not seen in earlier formulations.

Furthermore, augmenting the subject invention using colorants, namely oforganic and inorganic variety, but not limited to the use of automotivepowders, flakes and pearls.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specificationand appended claims.

The thermoplastic rubber component consists of astyrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene linear triblock copolymer. Theundusted hydrogenated version of these triblock copolymers is utilized.

This material is sprayed on the substrate, i.e. clear-coat to be coatedin multiple coats to ensure adequate coverage and uniform texture acrossthe entire surface sprayed. After application, the film is allowed todry, with the solvent becoming fugitive to the system; but in a specificorder where the tail solvent, in this case xylene, provides for adequateleveling. The following paragraphs list examples of formulations used toform the film disclosed herein:

EXAMPLE 1 Subject Coating/Film Formulation

Percent Ingredient by Weight Styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene linertriblock 6.51 copolymer, e.g., sold by Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.under the designation “Kraton G-1652” Hydrocarbon resin-e.g., Plastolyn290 sold by 5.7 Eastman Chemical Company Tackifier e.g., Eastotac H100 Wsold by 1.14 Eastman Chemical Company Silicon dioxide Thixotrope sold byCabot 0.57 Corp. e.g., Cabosil M-5 Hindered amine light stabilizer(HALS) 0.20 Chemstab LS-292 e.g., distributed by TMC Materials, Inc. UVstabilizer Chemsorb LS-328 e.g., 0.20 distributed by TMC Materials, Inc.Antioxidant Chemnox AN-1010 e.g., 0.20 distributed by TMC Materials,Inc. A solvent blend including a mixture of 22 I 11 85.47 I 9 of Xylene,Toluene, and VM&P Naphtha.

EXAMPLE 2 Subject Coating/Film Formulation

Ingredient Grams Percent by Weight Kraton 1652 32 6.50% Plastolyn 290 285.69% Eastotac H100 4.5 0.91% Cab-o Sil M5 3.7 0.75% Chemstab 1.8 0.37%Chemsorb 1.3 0.26% Chemnox 1 0.20% Xylene 220 44.69%  Toluene 12024.38%  Naphtha 80 16.25%  TOTAL 492.3 100.00% 

EXAMPLE 3 Pigmentation

Ounces/gallon by Pigment weight in Ounces Covert Black 12808-A 3 KillaRed R-8174 3 Bright White W-4514-B 5.7 Primer Gray 12823 5.7 GlacierBlue B-7934 4.7 Lethal Blue B-6591-A 4.2 Venom Green G-7380-A 4.2Incendiary Yellow Y-3922-A 5.7 Agent Orange O-1981-B 5.7 Purple P-1468-A5.8 Pink R-8187-A 5.2 Mil Spec Tan T-6276 4.2 Mil Spec Green G-7384 3.2Gangsta Black KSEB-2022 3

Another layer of gloss coating is also an option for the coatingdescribed herein. One example is a spray-able gloss coating having aslow activator, such as but not limited to, SEM 50501 EZ Clear Coat.Applying this kind of gloss coat to the peel-able coating formulationdescribed above gives the shiny finish that users desire and stillallows the resulting finish to be peeled off without damaging the paintand clear coat below.

These and other aspects of the film composition and method of making thesame are set forth in the claims below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A coating composition, comprising: a compositefilm comprising: a polymer; a tackifier; a hydrocarbon resin; a solvent;and a UV stabilizer; and at least one pigment additive.
 2. The coatingcomposition according to claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon resin has asoftening point of at least 140 degrees Celsius.
 3. The coatingcomposition according to claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon resin has amelting point of at least 140 degrees Celsius.
 4. The coatingcomposition according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is aStyrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene liner triblock copolymer.
 5. Thecoating composition according to claim 4, wherein the solvent comprisesa mixture of xylene, toluene and naphtha.
 6. The coating compositionaccording to claim 5, further comprising a silicon dioxide thixotrope.7. The coating composition according to claim 6 that is manuallypeel-able when dried onto a surface.
 8. The coating compositionaccording to claim 7 having a viscosity configured for use in a highvolume low pressure sprayer application
 9. The coating compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon resin is present in anamount between 5 percent by weight and 7 percent by weight.
 10. Thecoating composition according to claim 9, wherein the hydrocarbon resinis present in an amount between 5.5 percent by weight and 6.75 percentby weight.
 11. The coating composition according to claim 10, whereinthe hydrocarbon resin is present in an amount of 5.7 percent by weight.12. The coating composition according to claim 1 wherein the compositefilm further comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer.
 13. Thecoating composition according to claim 1 wherein the composite filmfurther comprises an antioxidant.
 14. The coating composition accordingto claim 1 wherein the composite film further comprises a pigmentadditive.
 15. The coating composition according to claim 1 furthercomprising a gloss coating on the coating composition.
 16. A coatingcomposition comprising: a composite film comprising: astyrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene liner triblock copolymer; ahydrocarbon resin; a tackifier; silicon dioxide thixotrope; a hinderedamine light stabilizer; a UV stabilizer; an antioxidant; a solventblend; and at least one pigment additive; and a gloss coating on thecomposite film.
 17. The coating composition according to claim 16wherein the styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene liner triblock copolymeris present in an amount greater than 6 weight percent.
 18. The coatingcomposition according to claim 16 wherein the hydrocarbon resin ispresent in an amount greater than 5 weight percent.
 19. The coatingcomposition according to claim 16 wherein the tackifier is present in anamount greater than 1 weight percent.
 20. The coating compositionaccording to claim 16 wherein the hindered amine light stabilizer ispresent in an amount greater than or equal to 0.20 weight percent. 21.The coating composition according to claim 16 wherein the UV stabilizeris present in an amount greater than or equal to 0.20 weight percent.22. The coating composition according to claim 16 wherein theantioxidant is present in an amount greater than or equal to 0.20 weightpercent.
 23. The coating composition according to claim 16 wherein thesolvent blend comprises a mixture of 22/11/9 of Xylene, Toluene, andVM&P Naphtha in an amount greater than 80 weight percent.